Automatic Fix for Windows 7 Services that Fail to Start Available

Microsoft has provided a fix for Windows customers that experiences issues with various of the platform’s services failing to start properly.

The Redmond company confirmed the fact that the problem can impact Windows 7, but also Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Customers will know they’re affected if they come across Error 1079 on their computer.

Even when attempting to start the services manually, the operating system will display “Error 1079: The account specified for this service is different from the account specified for other services running in the same process.”

The software giant points out that the services in question are Windows Time (W32Time), Windows Event Log (eventlog) and Windows Firewall (MpsSvc).

“The issue may occur if the service is started by the Local System account instead of by the Local Service account (NT AUTHORITY\LocalService). The Local System account may have insufficient permissions to start the service,” Microsoft said.

An automatic solution is already available for download from the software giant. Affected users need only make their way to KB 2478117, scroll down a bit and run the Fix It solution to resolve the issue.

Alternatively, customers can also take the matter in their own hands and repair the issue themselves.

Microsoft provided guidance for the manual steps needed in order to do so:

“1. Click Start, type "Services.msc” in the Search programs and files box, and then press ENTER,

2. Locate and double click the Windows Firewall service.

3. Click the Log On tab,

4. In the This account text box, type “NT AUTHORITY\LocalService”,

5. Set both Password fields blank,

6. Click Apply and then OK,

7. Repeat these steps for the Base Filtering Engine service.

8. Restart both services.”

The fix involves setting the services to run under the NT AUTHORITY\LocalService account.